A federal judge says he will rule quickly on whether to throw out a lawsuit challenging Alabama's new tax credits for families that move their children from failing public schools.
U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins on Monday heard from attorneys for the Southern Poverty law Center, which has sued on behalf of eight children in poor, rural counties. He also heard from the attorney general's office, which wants the suit against the governor and other state officials dismissed.
Southern Poverty Law Center attorney Jerri Katzerman says the new law doesn't provide equal protection because some rural students don't have the income or the transportation to move to non-failing schools long distances from their homes.
Assistant Attorney General William Parker says the law is even-handed and doesn't discriminate based on income.
